License Cost
Licence only · upgrade to visas anytime
AED 6,875
- Trade licence & registration
- Upgrade to visas anytime
- Company name reservation
- Flexi-desk / office options
- GoldenKey PRO support
FREE ZONE · SHARJAH
Shams Free Zone Cost & Price List
Sharjah's media free zone — creative and digital licences from AED 5,750
5–7 daysSetup time100%OwnershipUp to 10 visasVisas
- 5–7 daysSetup time
- Free ZoneLicence type
- Flexi | PhysicalOffice / facility
- Up to 10 visasVisa eligibility
- StandardApprovals needed
- From AED 5,280Renewal cost
About Shams Free Zone
Why Shams Free Zone
In practice, shams Free Zone is Sharjah's media free zone — creative and digital licences from AED 5,750, and it has become one of the most practical choices for founders who want a UAE licence without a large upfront budget. Shams Free Zone combines media & creative focus with the flexibility to add activities and visas later, which is why it suits both first-time business owners and established groups. Just as important, if you are weighing up where to register in the UAE, Shams Free Zone deserves a close look for its media & creative focus and straightforward renewal process.
Established by the Sharjah Media Council. Just as important, one of the reasons we recommend Shams Free Zone is its media & creative focus, which matters more than most founders realise once the business is running. As a rule, unlike some zones, Shams Free Zone does not require a large paid-up capital to be blocked in a bank account before the licence is issued.
Packages & cost
Pricing — choose the right package for your business
Pricing for costs of setting up in Shams Free Zone depends on the package you choose; every option below includes GoldenKey's service and the government fees stated. In practice, use the table below to compare packages for costs of setting up in Shams Free Zone; we will confirm the exact total for your case in a written quotation.
License Plus Visa Quota
1 residence visa · 1-year licence
AED 8,475
- Trade licence & registration
- Establishment card included
- 1 visa eligibility
- Flexi-desk / office options
- GoldenKey PRO support
License Plus Visa Quota
2 residence visas · 1-year licence
AED 10,075
- Trade licence & registration
- Establishment card included
- 2 visa eligibilities
- Flexi-desk / office options
- GoldenKey PRO support
License Plus Visa Quota
3 residence visas · 1-year licence
AED 11,675
- Trade licence & registration
- Establishment card included
- 3 visa eligibilities
- Flexi-desk / office options
- GoldenKey PRO support
License Plus Visa Quota
4 residence visas · 1-year licence
AED 13,275
- Trade licence & registration
- Establishment card included
- 4 visa eligibilities
- Flexi-desk / office options
- GoldenKey PRO support
License Plus Visa Quota
5 residence visas · 1-year licence
AED 14,875
- Trade licence & registration
- Establishment card included
- 5 visa eligibilities
- Flexi-desk / office options
- GoldenKey PRO support
License Plus Visa Quota
6 residence visas · 1-year licence
AED 16,575
- Trade licence & registration
- Establishment card included
- 6 visa eligibilities
- Flexi-desk / office options
- GoldenKey PRO support
License Plus Visa Quota
7 residence visas · 1-year licence
AED 18,075
- Trade licence & registration
- Establishment card included
- 7 visa eligibilities
- Flexi-desk / office options
- GoldenKey PRO support
License Plus Visa Quota
8 residence visas · 1-year licence
AED 19,675
- Trade licence & registration
- Establishment card included
- 8 visa eligibilities
- Flexi-desk / office options
- GoldenKey PRO support
License Plus Visa Quota
9 residence visas · 1-year licence
AED 21,275
- Trade licence & registration
- Establishment card included
- 9 visa eligibilities
- Flexi-desk / office options
- GoldenKey PRO support
License Plus Visa Quota
10 residence visas · 1-year licence
AED 22,875
- Trade licence & registration
- Establishment card included
- 10 visa eligibilities
- Flexi-desk / office options
- GoldenKey PRO support
Additional visaAED 2,420
Annual renewalAED 5,280
Bank account assistanceAED 1,650
Prices are indicative, in AED, exclusive of 5% VAT where applicable, and confirmed in writing before payment. Last updated 2026-10-27.
Business activities
Explore 834 business activities in Shams Free Zone
Shams Free Zone lets you combine related activities on one licence. Search by what your business does — in English or Arabic — and quote the GK code when you ask for a quotation.
GK-SHAMS-001PrintingMediaApproval requiredGK-SHAMS-002Printing of newspapers, magazines and other periodicals, books and brochures, music and music manuscripts, maps, atlases, posters, advertising catalogues, prospectuses and other printed advertising, postage stamps, taxation stamps, documents of title, cheMediaApproval requiredGK-SHAMS-003Printing directly onto textiles, plastic, glass, metal, wood and ceramics (except silkscreen printing on textiles and wearing apparel)
the material printed is typically copyrighted.MediaGK-SHAMS-004Printing on labels or tags (lithographic, gravure printing, flexographic printing, other)MediaApproval requiredGK-SHAMS-005Multi dimensional printing servicesMediaApproval requiredGK-SHAMS-006Printing,Advertising Agencies And Event OrganizingMediaApproval requiredPopular choices · 834 activities availableAll 834 Shams Free Zone activities
Required documents
Documents required
Here is what you will need for costs of setting up in Shams Free Zone; GoldenKey checks every item before submission.
Scanned colour copies are enough to start. We check every item before anything is submitted.
For individuals
- A passport-size photograph on a white background
- A no-objection certificate from your employer if you hold a UAE employment visaif applicable
- Your current residence visa and Emirates ID copy if you are a UAE residentif applicable
- Attested parent-company documents and a board resolution if the shareholder is a companyif applicable
- A short business plan or activity description for certain professional activitiesif applicable
- The UAE entry stamp or visa page if you are already in the countryif applicable
For companies
- Certificate of incorporation (attested)
- Memorandum & articles of association
- Board resolution approving the UAE company
- Passport copies of shareholders & directors
- Company profile / business plan
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers about Shams Free Zone. Anything else — ask GK AI or message us.
View all FAQsCan a Shams Free Zone company do business on the UAE mainland?
A Shams Free Zone company can sell to mainland customers through a mainland distributor, invoice services to mainland clients in most cases, and apply for a dual-licence arrangement where the emirate offers one. Direct retail or on-site contracting on the mainland needs a mainland licence.
How many visas can I get with a Shams Free Zone licence?
In short, visa quota is tied to the package and office you choose. Shams Free Zone packages typically start from a zero-visa option and scale to five or more visas with a physical office, and additional visas can be added later for the per-visa fee shown in our pricing.
Do I need to visit the UAE to set up in Shams Free Zone?
As a rule, most Shams Free Zone licences can be issued remotely with scanned documents and a signed power of attorney. You will need to enter the UAE for the medical test and Emirates ID biometrics when your UAE residence visa is processed.
How long does the Shams Free Zone licence take?
From day one, once your paperwork are complete, the licensing authority typically issues the licence within 3 working days. Visas and bank account opening follow afterwards.
Can I add more activities to my Shams Free Zone licence later?
Yes. Shams Free Zone allows activity additions and changes through a licence amendment, which GoldenKey can process in a few working days for a small authority fee.
Get a free quote
Ready to start your business in Shams Free Zone?
On the ground, if you would like a written quotation for costs of setting up in Shams Free Zone, use the form below or message us on WhatsApp and we will respond as soon as possible.
Good to know
More about Shams Free Zone
First year versus renewal
Your first-year cost in Shams Free Zone includes one-off registration, establishment card and immigration file charges. From year two you pay the renewal fee and visa renewals only, which is why the second year is noticeably lower than the first. GoldenKey shows both figures side by side so there are no surprises twelve months later.
Why the UAE
The UAE sits within an eight-hour flight of two-thirds of the world's population, which is why so many founders choose it as a base for costs of setting up in Shams Free Zone. There are no restrictions on repatriating profits or capital, so earnings from costs of setting up in Shams Free Zone can be moved to your home country or reinvested freely.
Why GoldenKey
If a document is missing or an approval is delayed on your Shams Free Zone file, we tell you immediately and explain the fix, rather than letting the application sit. In practice, we will tell you plainly if Shams Free Zone is not the right choice for your plan and point you to a better option, even when that option costs less. You deal with one named consultant from the first call until your Shams Free Zone licence, visa and bank introduction are complete, and that consultant answers your WhatsApp messages personally.
What the price includes
Every Shams Free Zone package quoted by GoldenKey includes the trade licence, company registration, the lease for the office option in the package and our full service. Residence visas are priced per person at AED 2,420 covering the entry permit, status change, medical test and Emirates ID. Annual renewal of the licence is currently AED 5,280, and our bank account introduction service is AED 1,650. Government fees change from time to time; the figures on this page are drawn from our live price list and confirmed in writing before you pay.
